Native American Full Moon Names: A Poetic Seasonal Calendar

When colonists settled North America, they adopted the Algonquian tribes' full moon names—poetic, evocative descriptors of seasons, nature's gifts, harsh climate, and Indigenous lifeways. Many other tribes created their own lunar calendars.

Pre-literate societies worldwide named moons by seasonal characteristics, creating verbal calendars. Medieval Europe had "mead moon" (July), "grain moon" (August), "barley moon" (September). Algonquian names entered American lore via the Old Farmer's Almanac.

The Twelve Moons

January – Wolf Moon (Algonquian): Wolves howl in bitter cold. Arapaho: "snow blows like spirits." Passamaquoddy: "whirling wind moon." Omaha: "snow drifts into tipis." Choctaw: "winter's younger brother." Haida: "bear hunting moon." Lakota: "hard moon." Shoshone: "freezing moon." Zuni: "limbs broken by snow."

February – Snow Moon: Heaviest snow. Algonquian: "hunger moon" (dwindling food). Cherokee: "bony moon." Abenaki: "branches fall in pieces." Arapaho: "frost sparkling." Choctaw: "wind moon." Comanche: "sleet moon." Lakota: "trees crack from cold." Passamaquoddy: "spruce tips fall." Wishram: "shoulder to shoulder around fire."

March – Worm Moon: Ground thaws; earthworm castings appear. Choctaw: "little spring moon." Comanche/Ponca: "water stands in ponds." Pueblo: "leaves break forth." Shawnee: "sap moon." Wishram: "long days moon." Arapaho: "buffalo drop calves." Omaha: "geese come home." Haida: "noisy goose moon."

April – Pink Moon: Wild pink phlox carpets ground. Cherokee: "flower moon." Apache: "big leaves moon." Comanche: "new spring moon." Abenaki: "sugar maker moon." Arapaho: "ice breaking in river." Cheyenne: "geese lay eggs." Cree: "gray goose moon."

May – Flower Moon: Abundant blooms. Algonquians saw Great Spirit in nature's growth. Arapaho: "ponies shed shaggy hair." Cheyenne: "horses get fat." Choctaw: "mulberry moon." Cree: "frog moon."

June – Strawberry Moon: Strawberries ripen. Algonquians gathered at summer camps near water. Choctaw: "blackberry moon." Haida: "berries ripen." Lakota: "berries are good." Potawatomi: "turtle moon." Omaha: "buffalo bulls hunt cows." Ponca: "hot weather begins." Wishram: "fish spoils easily."

July – Buck Moon: Bucks grow new antlers. Chippewa/Ojibwe: "raspberry moon." Apache: "horse and ripeness moon." Comanche: "hot moon." Haida: "salmon moon." Omaha: "buffalo bellow." Sioux: "red blooming lilies." Winnebago: "corn-popping moon." Wishram: "salmon run." Zuni: "limbs broken by fruit."

August – Sturgeon Moon: Sturgeon abundant in Great Lakes/Champlain. Assiniboine: "black cherries moon." Ponca: "corn in silk." Shawnee: "plum moon." Cherokee: "drying up moon." Passamaquoddy: "feather shedding moon."

September – Corn Moon / Harvest Moon: Critical harvest time. Corn (staple food) ready. Harvest Moon if closest to autumnal equinox. Chippewa/Ojibwe: "rice moon." Cherokee: "nut moon." Choctaw: "little chestnut moon." Shawnee: "pawpaw moon." Assiniboine: "yellow leaf moon." Cheyenne: "drying grass moon." Omaha: "deer paw earth."

October – Hunter's Moon / Harvest Moon: Fall hunting season. Larger game with bow/arrow; smaller in snares. Harvest Moon if equinox timing. Abenaki: "leaf falling moon." Cheyenne: "water freezes on streams." Cree: "birds fly south." Lakota: "wind shakes off leaves." Potawatomi: "first frost moon." Shawnee: "wilted moon." Wishram: "travel in canoes moon."

November – Beaver Moon: Set beaver traps before freeze. Skins/furs for winter. Potawatomi: "turkey moon." Pueblo: "all gathered in." Choctaw: "frost moon." Comanche: "heading to winter." Abenaki: "freezing river maker." Creek: "water black with leaves." Wishram: "snowy mountains morning."

December – Cold Moon / Long Nights Moon: Winter arrives. Choctaw: "big winter moon." Comanche: "evergreen moon." Wishram: "her winter houses moon." Zuni: "sun traveled home to rest." Cheyenne: "wolves run together." Winnebago: "big bear's moon."

Resources: Old Farmer's Almanac, Western Washington University Planetarium. Photos: Rick Leche, littlerottenrobin. (Editor's Note: Originally published January 19, 2011.)